y2017m11b05
20171129071900
assa
nadine@assaf.org.za
assa
South African Journal of Science
S. Afr. J. Sci
1996-7489
11292017
113
11/12
Bibliometric analysis of the development of nanoscience research in South Africa
Xolani
Makhoba
Institute for Technological Innovation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2485-3978
Anastassios
Pouris
Institute for Technological Innovation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3184-564X
Nanotechnology is a fast-growing scientific research area internationally and is classified as an important emerging research area. In response to this importance, South African researchers and institutions have also increased their efforts in this area. A bibliometric study of articles as indexed in the Web of Science considered the development in this field with respect to the growth in literature, collaboration profile and the research areas that are more within the country’s context. We also looked at public institutions that are more active in this arena, including government policy considerations as guided by the National Nanotechnology Strategy launched in 2005. We found that the number of nanotechnology publications have shown a remarkable growth ever since the launch of the strategy. Articles on nanotechnology have been published in numerous journals, with Electrochimica Acta publishing the most, followed by Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. These publications fall within the traditional domains of chemistry and physics. In terms of the institutional profile and based on publication outputs over the period reviewed, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is a leading producer of publications in nanotechnology, followed by the University of the Witwatersrand – institutions that are both based in the Gauteng Province. There is a high level of international collaboration with different countries within this field – the most productive collaboration is with India, followed by the USA and China, as measured through co-authorship.
11292017
1
10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark
sajs.co.za
false
2016-12-07
2017-06-20
2017-11-29
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
10.17159/sajs.2017/20160381
20171129071900
http://www.sajs.co.za/bibliometric-analysis-development-nanoscience-research-south-africa/xolani-makhoba-anastassios-pouris
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-11-12_Makhoba_ResearchArticle.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-11-12_Makhoba_ResearchArticle.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-11-12_Makhoba_ResearchArticle.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-11-12_Makhoba_ResearchArticle.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-11-12_Makhoba_ResearchArticle.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-11-12_Makhoba_ResearchArticle.pdf
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http://www.sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-11-12_Makhoba_ResearchArticle.pdf